A lawyer, asked [Jesus] a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
MATTHEW 22:35-40
Advent – Day 10
Tuesday, December 12
Amos 7:10–17
Revelation 1:9–16
Matthew 22:34–46
The daily readings are from the two-year daily lectionary as listed in the Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 933.
The Sunday readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year B.
I’m deviating somewhat from the readings today to commemorate this day, December 12.
Although it doesn’t appear in many church calendars in the United States, in Mexico it is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron Saint of the Americas.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Virgin Mary. But contrary to those images customarily seen in North America, she is brown skinned, and looks more like the people who venerate her.
Legend has it she appeared to a young peasant named Juan Diego on the Hill of Tepeyac in December of 1531, and asked that a church be built on that site in her honor.
Her appearance became a symbol of the validation of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, which was under Spanish rule at the time. She also served to bring together the different civilizations into a unified nation, both religiously and culturally. Years later, her image appeared on the flags that were carried into the battles for independence of the Mexican people.
In Mexico, today is a national holiday. It honors the Virgin’s special role in the origin and historical development in the history of the Mexican people.
But the day is celebrated everywhere and anywhere in the world where there is a sizeable Mexican population. Even where there aren’t many, you can find an image of the Virgin in just about every Mexican home.
From a political perspective, she accompanies and encourages every immigrant who travels to foreign soil. After all, Mary herself was an immigrant who, along with Joseph, had to flee to Egypt to save her Son, Jesus, from the persecution of Herod.
From a religious perspective, she is the most faithful follower of Christ, the exemplary model of how we are to follow Christ. She said, “Yes,” to God’s call to be the mother of the Savior of the world.
The devotion of the Mexican people to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the impassioned celebration of this day is one of the greatest lessons I learned as an inexperienced pastor during my time as mission developer of Iglesia Luterana La Trinidad, the first Latino worshipping community in the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
In 2015, I wrote a much longer article on that experience for the Metro Chicago Synod magazine, Let’s Talk.
The celebration of the festival became one of our highest attended annual worship services, rivaling Christmas Eve. It was also the springboard that launched the celebration of other cultural festivals as a tool for evangelism to the community.
The celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe aligns with the words of Jesus in our Gospel reading for today (see above): Love God, love your neighbor.
In a world abounding with prejudice, discrimination, hatred, and violence, the Virgin inspires us to strive for unity and justice, as she inspired the people of Mexico.
As her image flew on the flags that went into those battles for independence, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is often carried in procession today as a demonstration of faith and symbol for justice as willed by God. It strengthens people of faith today to stand with all immigrants and refugees in their struggle for a life of dignity in a new land.
And even though Our Lady of Guadalupe has singular meaning and significance for Mexican people, today reminds us that God loved us so much that he entered into humanity in the person of Jesus Christ through Mary.
Therefore, Mary transcends all peoples, and all cultures, because she gave birth to the Savior of all.
Let us pray:
O God of love, you blessed your people at El Tepeyac with the presence of La Virgen de Guadalupe: grant that her example of love to the poor and forsaken may stir our faith to recognize all people as members of one family. Teach us to follow in the way you have prepared for us, that we may honor one another in word and action, sharing with her your commonwealth of peace. Amen.*
*Adapted from the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services, p. 27
Walking Together in Faith 
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